ATLANTA — Golf is supposed to be a game of sportsmanship and civility. Instead, things got downright nasty Saturday at the U.S. Amateur Championship.
Bubba Dickerson, a 20-year-old junior at the University of Florida, edged Arizona State's Brian Nosler in a thrilling semifinal at East Lake Golf Club.
Dickerson advanced to Sunday's 36-hole final against Robert Hamilton, a 23-year-old Californian who failed to even qualify for the Amateur six times before finally getting in this year.
Hamilton advanced with a 2 and 1 victory over Colombia's Manuel Merizalde, a BYU senior-to-be who fell short in his bid to become the first foreign-born champion in 30 years.
Dickerson won the match with two brilliant shots, chipping in from the rough at No. 16 and sinking a 40-foot putt on the 17th. Yet his 1-up victory was tinged with bitter feelings over a putt covering no more than 12 inches.
Dickerson failed to concede the gimme at No. 11, saying later he simply forgot before heading to the next tee. But he also asked a USGA official if Nosler had picked up his ball, which would have given Dickerson a critical hole.
Nosler fumed over that bit of gamesmanship. He retaliated at the next hole by making Dickerson putt out from about two inches.
"I thought that was about the worst sportsmanship I've ever seen," said Nosler, a 22-year-old senior who reached the semis with an upset victory over defending champion Jeff Quinney. "I'm disappointed I couldn't beat him."
The two never said another word the rest of the round, brusquely shaking hands after Dickerson made a clinching 5-footer for par at the 18th.
"I guess I made him mad there (at 11), and he didn't give me a putt that was on the lip at the next hole," Dickerson said. "Well, if he wants to play that game, I can putt them out if he can."
"It hasn't hit me yet," Hamilton said. "I remember saying to myself, 'If you can't make it to the Amateur, are you really ready to go play on tour?"'
No matter what happens in the final, both Dickerson and Hamilton have earned invitations to the 2002 Masters. The Amateur champion also qualifies for the U.S. Open and British Open next year.
Dickerson started thinking about Augusta National when he went to the 15th tee facing a two-hole deficit.
"It was in my mind a lot," he said. "I was telling myself to tighten up or you're about to get beat."
Hamilton, of Carmichael, Calif., took control over Merizalde by simply making pars, winning four straight holes beginning at No. 12.
The 22-year-old Colombian knocked shots all over the course, finding trees, rough and enough sand to warrant wearing a bathing suit.